Do you know who murdered Xuong \Tom\ Thanh Chau in 1988? On May 28, 1988, Xuong 'Tom' Chau, a 28-year-old Vietnamese man, was murdered in Portland, Oregon. At the time of the incident, Chau was working in the back room of his store, Tom's Hock Shop, located on the 500 block of SE 82nd Avenue. Around 10:30 a.m., two young Asian men, likely Vietnamese, entered the store. One of them went into the back room and shot Chau. His mother, who was present, witnessed the shooting.
Although Chau was rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
Investigators noted that the suspects, both described as being in their early to mid-twenties with small builds, also stole a small amount of jewelry from the store before fleeing the scene. There were rumors that the shop might have been involved in illicit activities, which could have played a role in the crime. Despite these details and an eyewitness account, the case remains unsolved.
The Cold Case Homicide Unit of the Portland Police Bureau continues to seek information regarding the murder. They urge anyone with knowledge of the crime to come forward, emphasizing that even small details could help solve the case. Crime Stoppers of Oregon has also offered a cash reward for tips that lead to an arrest.
